Utah Opens Pac-12 Play at No. 10 Stanford
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah women's soccer team opens up Pac-12 play on Friday night when it travels to Stanford, California, to face the No. 10 Cardinal of Stanford University. First kick is set for 7 p.m. MT from Laird Q. Cagan Stadium.
THURSDAY'S MATCHUP
Date | Time: Friday, September 24 | 7 p.m. (MT)
Utah (5-3-1, 0-0-0 Pac-12) at Stanford (6-2-0, 0-0-0 Pac-12)
Location: Stanford, Calif. | Laird Q. Cagan Stadium
Live Stats: Click Here
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Twitter Updates: @UtahWSoccer
Last Time Out
The last time the Utes took to the pitch was Thursday, September 16, when they traveled to Logan, Utah, to face the Aggies of Utah State. After a scoreless first half, the Utes scored two goals in the second half and won the matchup, 2-1. Courtney Talbot scored the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute of the contest when she took a free-kick and scored. Taliana Kaufusi scored the other goal for Utah, which game in the 50th minute of the game. Both of the Utes goals were unassisted.
Scouting Stanford
Stanford enters this matchup with the Utes with a record of 6-2-0 on the season and ranked No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. The Cardinal are 5-0 when playing at home this season and have won their last three matches. They defeated then-No. 11 Santa Clara on Sunday, September 19, 3-1, in their previous contest. Stanford is averaging 3.00 goals per game this season. They have scored 24 goals in eight games while only allowing five. They have outshot their opponents 21.9 to 7.3 per game. Maya Doms leads the team with goals (5) and points (12). She is one of five players on the roster to have two or more goals scored this season. Abby Greubel and Belle Briede each have four goals. Katie Meyer has appeared in all eight games while making seven starts as the team's goalkeeper. She has a goal-against average of 0.73 on the season and has tallied 20 saves.
Last Time Against Stanford
Last season, the Utes and Cardinal met at the Laird Q. Cagan Stadium, and the Cardinal came away with the win. Utah collected six shots in the match, with five being on goal. Utah managed more corner kicks, 6-1, in the game. Kaylee Coatney led the Utes with three shots with two on goal in the match.
Surpassing Last Year's Win Total
Over the first nine games of the 2021 season, the Utes have surpassed the win total from the spring season. Utah has won five matches this season, one more than last year. During the spring, Utah went 3-6-2 in Pac-12 play. How many wins can this year's team pick up in conference play?
Utes Program Looking for Win 275
The Utes soccer program continues to pick up wins and looking for their 275th win in program history. They currently have 274 wins. The program's 250th win came during the 2018 season with a 3-0 victory over Utah State.
Overtime Matches
Utah is 27-12-45 in overtime games in program history. Utah has one draw this season when they tied then-No. 22 BYU 0-0 at Ute Field. Utah enters the matchup with the Cardinal tying the last two Pac-12 openers and have tied five since joining the Pac-12.
Utah Openers In the Pac-12
Since the Utes have joined the Pac-12 before the 2011 season, Utah is 2-3-5 in conference opening matches. Over the ten conference openers for the Utes in the Pac-12, Utah has faced six ranked opponents out of those ten teams. Utah has recorded a draw in the last two Pac-12 openers. In the 2020-21 season, Utah tied No. 15 Washington State 0-0, and during the 2019 season, Utah tied Arizona State 2-2. Over their last five conference opening matches, Utah is 1-1-3.
Utes Recording Shutouts
Utah has tallied four shutouts this season, with both being back-to-back. Utah's first shutout came on August 29 when they shut out the Bears of Northern Colorado, 3-0. In the next game, they shut out Illinois State in Normal, Illinois. The Utes followed with a shutout of then-No. 22 BYU before shutting out Dixie State, 3-0. Three of the four shutouts for the Utes have come at Ute Field. Last season, Utah tallied three shutouts.
Career Numbers for Talbot
Over the Utes' first nine games of the season, Courtney Talbot is putting up career numbers. She has scored three goals, which is a career-high for a single season. Her three goals this year doubled her total from her first two years combined. She has tallied seven points this year, which is one point off a career-high.
Last Win Over Stanford
The last time the Utes came away with a victory over Stanford was during the 2006 season when Utah opened the season against the 19th ranked Cardinal in the Santa Clara Tournament. Adele Letro scored the game-winning goal for Utah in the 78th minute of the match, on a give-and-go with Kelly Isleib.
Last Six Matches
Over the Utes' last six matches, Utah holds a record of 4-1-1. During this stretch, Utah has tallied four shutouts and outscored its opponents 10-3. The four wins are over Northern Colorado, Illinois State, Dixie State, and Utah State. The Utes tied then-No. 22 BYU 0-0 during this stretch. Over the last three matches, Utah has been undefeated, going 2-0-1.
Coach Nakada Returns to Stanford
For the first time as a head coach, Utah's head coach Hideki Nakada returns to where he called home for seven seasons. Friday's matchup will be the first meeting between the first-year head coach for the Utes against Stanford.
Next Up
On Thursday, September 30, Utah returns to Ute Field to take on Washington State in Pac-12 play. This will be the first home Pac-12 game for the Utes. First kick is set for 7 p.m. MT and will be aired on the Pac-12 Networks.